Page 84 of Midnight Whispers

He nods. “You can probably understand why I don’t like surprises based on lies. It takes me back, dredges all that shit up again.” He frowns. “So when I found out that you’d lied and kept from me who Maude was to you…” He squeezes the bridge of his nose then meets my gaze. “I should have let you explain, been more understanding.”

I shake my head. “No, you had every right to be upset with me.”

“I know, I know. But I just cut you off at the knees. Ended things. Wouldn’t hear you out or even speak to you, and that wasn’t right. I’m sorry.” His gaze is full of remorse, and I attempt to touch his cheek but cringe when a sharp pain pierces my side.

“Thank you for telling me. I understand better now why you reacted the way you did.”

“If I could take it back, I would. In a second.” He brings the hand he’s holding up to his lips and kisses my knuckles.

“I have to apologize too.”

He shakes his head as if he’s not going to let me.

“No, Nero. Let me say this.”

With a deep sigh, he nods.

“I was wrong for not telling you that Maude was my stepsister. The moment I knew I was falling for you, I should have come clean. Even if I was scared. Even if I thought you might end our relationship because of it. I should have trusted that what we had would be strong enough to survive.”

He leans forward and places a chaste kiss on my lips. “You’re forgiven, princess.”

The weight of the world lifts off my shoulders, and tears pool in the corners of my eyes in relief.

“I’m still so pissed at myself that it took you almost dying for me to come to my senses. When I saw you bleeding…” He squeezes his eyes shut. “I’ve never been more terrified in my life. The idea of you no longer being on this earth was unfathomable. I don’t know how I would have been able to go on.”

His words remind me of something I’ve been wondering about. “How did you know Freddie had ambushed me?”

Embarrassment colors his cheeks for a beat, and he glances down at the comforter. “I was still watching you. I swear, Cinder, when I saw him with his fucking hands on you, I thought I was going to have a heart attack and keel over. I have never felt more desperate than that night.”

“You were watching me?” I ask softly. I’d assumed all of that had stopped after the night Louise and Maude confronted me.

“Yeah.” His voice is rough. “I was able to stop for about a week, then I couldn’t stand it anymore. Even though I was still processing it all, I needed to have my eyes on you.”

“Thank you for saving me,” I whisper, not wanting to imagine what the alternative would have been if he hadn’t shown up.

“Princess, you’re the one who saved me. In more ways than one.” He rests his forehead against mine. When he pulls away, he looks in my eyes with conviction. “I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone else in my life. I need you with me forever, and I refuse to let anything, or anyone, ever tear us apart again. You have my commitment that I will love you until the end of my days with all that I have. My life means nothing if I don’t have you in it. I haven’t felt unconditional love like this since I was a child from my mom. Thank you for loving me the way you do.”

A tear races down my cheek. Nero loves me. My eyes drift closed for a beat because I never thought I’d hear those words from him. Thought I’d ruined my chance to ever hear them.

I know exactly what he means, though. I’m an orphan too, and if you’re not one, it’s hard to understand how much you crave being loved again once you’ve lost it.

“I love you too. So much.”

He kisses me gently then pulls away. “Don’t ever leave me.”

I shake my head. “Never.”

“I’ll never leave you,” he says.

And though they’re not wedding vows, they’re a vow just the same. One we both intend to keep.

Epilogue

NERO

Two weeks have passed since Cinder returned to Midnight Manor, and she’s doing a lot better. She still has to take it easy, which is driving her crazy.

I had to convince her that it’s still too early to open up the dance school, that she needs to keep resting and healing so she can be at her best once it does open. Besides, the doctor told her she still can’t dance, so as much as she hates it, she’s had to be somewhat sedentary except for the walks we take around the property.

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